Mounting for rotary agitators



2, 1951 c. s. BROWN ET AL 2,536,348

MOUNTING FOR ROTARY AGITATORS Filed June 18, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l w m g w'l'. I I 3 I g-l u 3 :5 i u l E!" /5 I i 1: i M

I 5 II 1 L L I'L L z Jr W INVENTORS CARL. 5. BROWN and EDWA PD 5. mum/vs B Y 6114 6M,

Jan. 2, 1951 Filed June 18, 1949 C. 5. BROWN ET AL MOUNTING FOR ROTARY AGITATORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS CARL S. BROWN and EDWARD E. DEUR/NG BY 1641, 73m,

Patented Jan. 2, 1951 UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE Carl S. Brown. Lakewood, and- Edward E. Deuring, Clevel nd Heights, Ohio. assignors, to Glascote Products, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 18, 1949*,Serial No. 99,942

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a mounting for rotary agitator and particularly to an improved mounting for rotary agitators of enclosed containers where the agitator'drive and support is mounted on the exterior of the container.

The present invention is especially adapted for use in connection with enclosed, agitator equipped, containers, such as reaction kettles which are used in the manufacture of synthetic rubber and plastics and particularly where the contents of the kettle is corrosive and/or under pressure. Suchv reaction kettles generally comprise an enclosed, container provided with a removable cover or integral top having a suitable covered'opening. An agitator shaft generally extends. vertically through the top of the container and is provided on its inner end with an impeller or other agitating means. An agitator driving unit, including a motor, is mounted on the top or cover of the kettle and is suitably connected with the agitator shaft to rotate the same.

In many'inst'ances the corrosive nature of the contents requires the application of a corrosive resistant material to the interior of the kettle, the agitator, and that portion of the agitator shaft which is in contact with such contents. A coating of glass which is fused to the surfaces to be protectedhas been found highly satisfactory for'such purposes.

In, the past considerable difficulty has been experienced in providing a satisfactory a itator shaft mounting, which would satisfactorily support the agitator shaft for rotation. eliminate undue strains on the glass, coated parts, reduce friction and wear, permit the use of high internal fluid pressures, and temperatures, and at the same time be, capable of withstanding heavy duty over protracted periods of time. These, therefore, are the general objectsof the present inven tion.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily understood from the following specification, reference being made to a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The essential features of the invention will be summarized in the claims;

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a view of: an agitator equipped reactor kettle embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is an axial section througha portion of the agitator shaft and the associated parts of the kettle; Fig. 3 is a frag;- mentary View, partially inseotion, illustratingthe portion of'the rotary seal used to preventescape of the. kettle contents along the agitator shaft; and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view through the drive shaft and gear housing. taken in the same plane as Fig. 2 but. on a somewhat smaller scale;

In. the, drawings, It indicates a closed! con.- tainer such as a reaction kettle, which is: supported. in a vertical position by suitable legs H. The kettle illustrated has an open top which, when in use, is closed by a top or cover t2". A suitable. sealing gasket (not shown) i'sposition'ed between the cover and the kettle; Clamps f5 are provided to retain the cover in position. Whilethe embodimentshown includes a removable cover l2, it is to be understood that the top of the kettle may be formed integral with the body thereof, and a suitable opening, indicatedat It, may be provided which may be sea-led by a relatively small cover.

An agitator H is mounted on the lower end of a vertical shaft 2!} which extendsinto the kettle through a flanged opening 21 inthe cover. The agitatorshaft is supported'in part byand extends throu h a bearing and seal assembly generally indicated in the drawings at 25 and which is mounted on the top l2 andcoacts with the flange 22"01 the opening 2! and the agitator shaft 20 to prevent the-escape of the fluid pressure: within thekettle.-

An agitator drive mechanism is also mounted on the-kettle top 2. This mechanism is generally indicated"at;26.and includes a housing 2! carrying a vertical extending drive shaft 28; which is supportingly and drivingly coupled with the agitator shaft 20 as will be hereinafter'more fully described. The drive shaft 23 is driven by a motor 3U=mounted On a platform 3| carried by the-nous ing 21. The armature shaft 32 of the motor 3:! is drivingly connected to the shaft 28 by suit.- able speed reduction gearing, indicated at33. as being mounted within the housing 21.

As heretofore mentioned, the invention is particularly adapted for use in connection. with reactors containing corrosive materials. Accordingly the kettle Ill, which is made of metal such as steel, is provided with an internal] glass coating, 35,, such coating being fused to the steel in the usual manner. The agitator l1 and. its shaft 2 0 also are made-of metal and provided with a glass coating 36 which is fused to the, exterior thereof.

The agitator shaft 20,, asheretofore mentioned, is. supported by; and journalled inv the. bearing and; seal assembly 25'. This assembly comprises a tubular metalli'c'sleeve or housing iflhavlh'g a 'tainer ring ii I.

3 metallic ring 4| seated against the internal shoulder 42 in its lower end. The bottom and internal surfaces of this ring are provided with a fused glass coating 43. The housing m is secured in position on the kettle ill by bolts These bolts pass through enlarged openings 45 in a flange 46 of the housing til and threadingly engage bosses which are welded to the top I2 of the kettle. A gasket 48 of resilient noncorrosive material is interposed between the lower surface of the ring M and the upper surface of the kettle flange 22, andprovides a fluid tight seal between the kettle and housing. The

glass lining of the kettle extends over the upper surface of the flange 22 and prevents corrosive action at the junction of the housing and the kettle.

The agitator shaft 20 is rota'tably supported by. 2.

the housing 40; The upper end of the shaft 2:?

friction bearing 50. This bearing is shown as being a double tapered roller bearing, the inner race of which is clamped against a shoulder 5% formed on the shaft 25, by a nut 52 which engages the external threads of a split sleeve 53 seated in a channel 55 formed in theshaft 2% The outer race 55 of the bearing is clamped against a shoulder 58, formed on the inner wall of the hous ing 40, by a cap 5? which is secured to the housing 46 by bolts 58.

Escape of fluid from the kettle along the agitator shaft 26 is prevented by a rotary seal generally indicated at 68. As illustrated in Fi 2, this seal comprises a compressible sealing ring 6] of non-corrosive material which .is clamped against a glass coated region ofthe shaft 2@. However, this ring may be glass coated, in which case the surface contacting the ring 6! is ground to provide an eificient bearing surface. Likewise the surface of the insert :il may be glass coated and ground to provide effective bearin and sealing" material which is inert to most corrosive'actions and provides an ideal sealing surface, The insert 63 seats against a shoulder 64 formed in the re- The packing or sealing ring Bl is held in position in the channel by a clamping ring 68 which freely encircles the shaft 2% and enters the chan-' nel 65 seating against the packing $5. Thepacking engaging surfaces of the rings 62 and fi are beveled so that when brought together axially they force the packing into clamping engagement with the shaft 263. This clamping action is caused by a series of springs 85 which are interposedbp tween the ring 58 and an upper ring is spaced thereabove and secured to the shaft 29 by set screws 1 I The rings it, 68, 62, togetherwith the seal 5i,

the ring 62. The coacting surfaces of the lower ring '62 and the carbon insert 63 provide anideal .seal and bearing for the sealin unit 6E3. If de- "sired, the ring 62 may be protected by a glass icoating on itsinner face. However, generally it is illustrated as being made of a suitable noncorrosive alloy.

The cap at is hollow and is provided with a seal generally indicated at 8B. This seal is similar to the seal Bil and hence will not be described in detail, and the individual components corresponding with those of the lower seal 60 areindicated by the same reference characters. The upper seal packing 6! bears against the shaft 20 above the glass coating thereof and the insert ring 4| has been omitted, and the insert 63 is seated in the cap itself.

The glass coating 36 of the" agitator shaft 20 extends above the sealing ring 61 of the seal 60. Accordingly, this seal engages such coating, thus reducing the exposed surfaces which are unprotected by glass. The glass coating 36 of the agitator shaft 28 in the region of the lower seal is ground as indicated at 23. This grinding of the glass coat insures a trueness of the shaft, not otherwise obtainable, and, in addition, provides a surface which may be advantageously sealing by the packing 5E and yet which will permit axial movement of the packing. By providing the shaft 2:3 with an exceedingly true surface the rings 10, (iii, and 83, may be made to provide a minimum amount of clearance with the shaft 20 without danger of contact therewith. The ground surface of the glass likewise increases the sealing adhesion between the seal BI and the shaft.

The agitator shaft is driven by the drive unit 26 which is mounted on the cover 2 with its drive shaft 23 in vertical alignment with the agitator shaft 28 and extending into theupper end thereof. The drive housing 21 is provided with 2. plurality of legs 99 which are secured to the upper end of a cage-like structure 9! by bolts 92. The cage encircles the bearing assembly 25 and is secured to the cover by studs 93. These studs engage threaded openings in bosses 96 which are welded to the kettle top. l2. These studs 93 extend through sleeves HM which are threaded to the cage 9!, and are provided with suitable nuts 96. Accordingly, the axis'of the drive shaft 28 may be tilted to bring its axis parallel with the axis of the agitator shaft 25. To insure alignment of the agitator shaft with the drive shaft 28 the shaft bearing assembly 25 is adjustable transversely of its axis. As heretofore mentioned, the mounting studs 44 pass through enlarged openings 45 in the housing 40, thus enabling transverse positioning of the housing together with the agitator shaft. Suitable adjusting screws, one of which is indicated in Fig. 2 at 95, pass radially through the housing 40 and engage the periphery of the flange 22 of the kettle top 12, thus accurately positioning the housing to complete the alignment of the shafts.

The drive shaft 28, as indicated in Fig. 4, is

journalled in a pair of spaced bearings 96 and 9'! carried by the housing 21. This shaft projects downward into snug telescopic engagement with the hollow upper end of the agitator shaft 20, and the driving connection therebetween is established bv a key98 and a set screw 99 (Fig. 2) The lower bearing 9'! is elongated and is spaced some distance above the agitator seal and supporting unit, thus providing a sturdy upper bearin for the ag tator shaft. a

The agitator shaft 2% is hollow and is sealed at its upper end by the drive shaft 28. The upper bearing of the agit tor shaft, namely the bearing 91 0f the drive shaft 28, is spaced above the seal unit 25. Likewise the housing21, which supports the bearing 9'! and shaft 28, is spaced from the seal unit and is connected to the kettle by the open cage-like structure 9 I, thus reducing, to a minimum, the transfer of heat from the kettle to the bearing 91. This arrangement reduces the effect of high temperatures in the kettle on the agitator shaft drive and supporting mechanism and thereby greatly increases the efliciency of the structure.

The housing Mi provides container for lubricant to lubricate the bearing 52 and the seal members 63 and 8!]. When the kettle is used for high internal pressures, such pressures may be balanced by maintaining the circulation of oil through the housing 40 at pressures commensurate with the internal pressure of the kettle. To this end the housing 40 is provided with an opening I00 for an inlet conduit IUI, and the cap 51 is provided with an opening I82 for an outlet conduit H13. These conduits may be connected with a reservoir and pressure pump in the usual manner to maintain the circulating pressure of the lubricating fluid. If desired, the usual filters may be used in the lubricating system.

When the unit is used with low internal kettle pressures, the upper seal BE! in the unit 25 may be eliminated, and the openings His and H32 plugged. The elimination of the upper seal 80 increases the space provided in the housing 40 for a lubricant supply.

I claim:

1. In an agitator bearing support for reaction kettles and the like, a housing encircling said shaft, a rotary seal mounted in one end of said housing, a retainer ring for said seal at the end of said housing and having its under and inner surfaces provided with a glass coating, said seal including a packing ring engaging and rotatable with said shaft to provide a fluid tight seal therebetween, said shaft having a glass coating provided with a ground surface to coact with said packing material, and an antifriction bearing mounted in said housing above said seal and coacting with said shaft to rotatably support said shaft in said housing.

2. A mounting unit for an agitator shaft for containers having a, top provided with an opening and through which the agitator shaft extends, said unit comprising a housing encircling the shaft and secured to said top in alignment with the opening in the container, a rotary seal mounted in the lower end of said housing and including a packing ring engaging said shaft to provide a fluid tight seal, said shaft having a glass coating provided with a ground surface to coact with said packing, and an antifriction bearing carried by said housing above said seal and coacting with said shaft to rotatingly support said shaft in said housing.

3. In a mountng unit for an agitator shaft for a reaction kettle having an opening in its top, through which the agitator shaft extends, said unit comprising a housing encircling said shaft externally of said kettle and adapted to be secured to said top in alignment with the opening therein, an annular insert holder encircling said shaft and clamped between said housing and top, a gland insert mounted in said insert holders within said housing, a rotary seal mounted in said housing and coacting with said gland to form a fluid tight seal therewith, said rotary seal including a packing ring engaging said shaft to provide a fluid tight seal therewith, a glass coating on said shaft provided with a ground surface to coact with said packing, an antifriction bearing carried by said housing above said seal and coacting with said shaft to rotatingly support said shaft in said housing, and a, second rotary seal mounted in said housing above said bearing.

4. In a mounting unit for an agitator shaft for a reaction kettle having an opening through which said shaft extends, said unit comprising a housing encircling said shaftand secured to the container top in alignment with the opening therein, a rotary seal mounted in said housing at the lower end thereof and including an annular retainer clamped between said housing and said container top, a gland insert surrounding said shaft and mounted in said retainer, a ring encircling said shaft and axially movable relative thereto and having its lower face coacting with the upper face of said insert to provide a rotary fluid tight seal therebetween, a second ring encircling said shaft and axially movable relative thereto, packing disposed between said rings and engaging said shaft to provide a fluid tight seal therebetween, resilient means to urge said rings and packing toward said insert, and means to rotate said rings and packing as a unit with said shaft, said shaft having a glass coating provided with a ground surface to coact with said packing material, and an antifriction bearing carried by said housing and coacting with said shaft to rotatingly support said shaft in said housing.

CARL S. BROWN. EDWARD E. DEURING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 548,793 Winship Oct. 29, 1895 2,009,162 Cawood July 23, 1935 2,151,146 Petry Mar. 21, 1939 2,266,733 Bays et a1 Dec. 253, 1941 

